MSc in Applied Architecture and Design
Belfast, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
16 Sep 2024
TUITION FEES
GBP 25,800 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for EU and international
Introduction
An innovative Master’s programme on architecture and design for enthusiastic students with an undergraduate degree in a creative discipline who wish to explore future opportunities in architecture, interior architecture, design, film and creative industries.
Course Content
This is a personalised Master’s programme for engaged students who would like to make the most of their time at Queen’s. The work produced throughout the year will be a collaborative effort between you, your year group, our award-winning academics and practising architects, designers and artists. Because this yearlong course does not require you to meet a prescription for qualification, it encourages you to work both within and beyond the realm of conventional design practices. We would like you to push the boundaries of your imagination and the limits of architectural/design media while working with other architects, designers, artists and filmmakers.
You will work on modules including design, humanities and technology, questioning norms in art, design and architecture throughout. You will complete a major thesis project, the topic and methodology of which will be self-directed. You will be able to use the thesis to experiment with new ideas, technologies and media, and as a gateway to your future career goals.
The course encourages lateral thinking, problem-solving, creativity and engagement with design in a self-critical process. It will address issues as diverse as our survival on the planet and alternative ways of thinking about what architecture and design can be and do.
What Will Excite You
Through design methods such as cinematic analysis, modelmaking, filmmaking, sketching, and photography, you will design projects from the bottom up and focus on both the tangible and intangible qualities of urban and architectural spaces. You will spend the year designing, collaborating and producing with people from around the world on our university campus which has celebrated its 175th year. Queen’s clubs, societies, and facilities including the new Student Union, Queen’s Sport and Queen’s Film Theatre will also provide excellent opportunities to make friends outside of your discipline.
The Environment
You will be based in Belfast, a growing city known for its industrial design heritage and its vibrant arts culture and creative industries. As stated in the Complete University Guide 2022: Belfast is one of Europe's most hip, lively and affordable cities, lauded for its energy, and rich in culture and history. Queen's stunning campus is within Belfast's Queen's Quarter, with cafés, bars, restaurants, superb shopping and entertainment venues. You will enjoy a healthy staff-to-student ratio, good studios with your own space, a world-class library and excellent workshops for physical and digital manufacturing.
Applied Architecture and Design highlights
World Class Facilities
Prestigious Master’s degree awarded in one year in a UK Russell Group University.
Industry Links
Close collaborations with the industry and practising architects in studio tutoring, project reviews and research, including RIBA, RSUA, QFT and BFI/Film Hub NI.
Career Development
Depending on their nationality, some international students have the right to work in the UK for two years following their studies at Queen’s. If you are interested in this opportunity, you can contact the Student Guidance Centre.
Opportunity to apply to PhD in Architecture at Queen’s. If you are interested in this route, please consult the programme director for details.
World Class Facilities
Studying in an international environment among native English speakers in continuously maintained facilities that are adapted to technical health and safety requirements.
Student Experience
In this programme, you will be working with several local and international students and academics who have established researchers and practising architects. Queen’s and Belfast are at the intersection of the UK and Ireland as well as America and Europe, both physically and culturally; therefore the university and the city offer a unique and memorable student experience. Belfast is in the top 15 friendliest cities in Europe (Condé Nast Traveller, Readers' Choice Awards 2021), and Northern Ireland is the happiest place to live in the UK (Lloyds Bank Happiness Index, 2020). Belfast has the lowest cost of living in the country (Mercer Cost of Living City Ranking 2021) as well as the lowest student rent (NatWest Student Living Index 2020).
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
The Department for the Economy will provide a tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 per NI / EU student for postgraduate study.
A postgraduate loans system in the UK offers government-backed student loans of up to £11,836 for taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas.
Often students worry about the cost of postgraduate study, but there are many funding opportunities available for studying in the UK. From government loans and university scholarships to working while you study. This guide will set out the funding available from the university and some external sources. The information provided in this section is not a comprehensive list of funding sources.
Applying for funding available from the University is part of an integrated, online, postgraduate admissions process. An offer of a place at Queen’s does not constitute an offer of financial support.
For 2023 entry, Faculties and Schools in the University will be setting their deadlines for postgraduate applications for admissions, studentships, and scholarships. Applicants who wish to apply for postgraduate funding available from the University for 2023 entry should refer to the relevant Faculty and School websites for information.
Curriculum
Course Structure
- Semester 1 - AAD Design Studio 1, Technical Dissertation, and Humanities Dissertation
- Semester 2 - AAD Design Studio 2, Technical Dissertation, and Humanities Dissertation
- Semester 3 - Thesis Project
Modules
The modules listed below are compulsory. Field trips will enrich the programme; last year, we spent a week in Naples, Italy. Students are also encouraged to incorporate other Queen’s modules (INTO academic skills, advanced English, languages, history, introduction to film studies, etc.) as long as timetables allow.
- AAD Design Studio 1 (30 CATS), Semester 1/12 weeks
- AAD Design Studio 2 (30 CATS), Semester 2/12 weeks
- Humanities Dissertation (30 CATS), Semester 1+2/24 weeks
- Technical Dissertation (30 CATS), Semester 1+2/24 weeks
- Thesis Project (60 CATS), Semester 3/12 weeks (Summer)
Assessment
Assessments associated with the course, which will include individual and group work, are outlined below:
- Project-based design work (individual and collaborative)
- Critical design reviews
- Representation and multimedia
- Academic research
- Dissertation/scholarly essay
- (Optional) Competition entry, public exhibition, conference presentation and/or journal article.
Rankings
Architecture at Queen’s is ranked 8th in the UK in Guardian League Table 2023, 2nd for graduate prospects, 8th for teaching quality, and 9th for student experience.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Employment after the Course
By completing the programme, you will graduate with an MSc in applied architecture and design within a year from a Russell Group university in the UK. The MSc is ideal for postgraduate students who have not chosen their career paths yet. If you would like to push the boundaries of your education and think outside the box, MSc is for you.
Where Might you be in five years?
Anywhere in the world in one of many different disciplines. Queen's Architecture graduates have ended up designing skyscrapers in Asia and the Middle East, emergency housing for refugees in Africa, film sets or CGI for Hollywood productions, and computer game environments as well as working as urban planners, photographers, editors, illustrators, visual artists worldwide and lecturing/researching in universities.
Facilities
Program Leaders
Program delivery
Teaching varies but is typically on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, some Thursdays and some Fridays.
Learning and Teaching
Academic Writing
If you have not written scholarly texts before, do not worry, you will be supervised by experts and will become an expert yourself.
Design Studio
You may be familiar with studio culture in architecture/design. In AAD we will particularly emphasise cinematic architecture through creative solutions for the future, critical thinking and experimentation. The learning environment will be personalised as to your strengths and aspirations. The shared studio environment with other programmes (BSc Architecture and MArch) at Queen’s will aid your learning.
Technology and Media
Depending on your interests, in this program, you will be encouraged to use and experiment with a variety of media including sketching, modelmaking, casting, filmmaking, animation, and contemporary CAD/scripting/editing software. Technology, use of equipment and materials, and detailing will be an integral part of design projects.